Canadian citizens and permanent residents who showed curiosity in the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) in 2020 are getting invites to complete the application. The invites are sent by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The people who filled the form between October 13 and November 3, 2020, are the only ones getting invitations.
Earlier this week, IRCC conducted the PGP 2020 draw. Over a 10-day period, the organization will issue the invitations.
For the PGP-2020, the plan is to welcome around 10,000 applications. However, the numbers are about to go higher and may touch up to 40,000 in 2021. Earlier, IRCC had decided to send this many invitations between 2020 and 2021, but due to the pandemic, all the invitations have been postponed to this year.
As the number of requests outnumbers the IRCC’s ability to accept the forms, that is why Canada has a lottery option to select individuals randomly. Once selected, they get the invite to complete the application. Before holding the lottery, IRCC ensures to remove the duplicate submissions to keep equal opportunity for every requestor.
The candidates get 60 days to complete and submit their applications after they have received the invitations. However, given the COVID-19 situation, if the person is not able to submit the documents on time, they have to show the related proofs for the same. Once validated, the candidate will be given extra 90-days to close the rest of the application.
The individuals who have filled out the interest form should check their e-mails and junk folders regularly to check for the invitation. IRCC makes sure that the only people who are getting contacted are those who are invited to apply. Applicants can also see the invite status on the IRCC portal.
In October 2020, Canada’s government temporarily eased out the income requirements for programs like PGP. The step was taken in the wake of the Corona pandemic, which may have affected many potential sponsors. IRCC needs the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) should be attained by the sponsor. Before the update, IRCC needed the sponsor’s income at MNI plus 30 percent.
Table: Income needed for the 3 tax years right before the day you apply (for 2021’s applications).
| The total number of people you will be responsible for | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| 2 people | $32,899 | $41,007 | $40,379 |
| 3 people | $40,445 | $50,414 | $49,641 |
| 4 people | $49,106 | $61,209 | $60,271 |
| 5 people | $55,695 | $69,423 | $68,358 |
| 6 people | $62,814 | $78,296 | $77,095 |
| 7 people | $69,935 | $87,172 | $85,835 |
| For each additional person over 7, add: | $7,121 | $8,876 | $8,740 |
The sponsors will have to determine the size of their family to understand how much income they should have to sponsor their parents and grandparent. That includes everyone who is financially dependent on the sponsor. The list could have:
- Yourself
- Your spouse or common-law partner
- Your dependent children
- Your spouse’s or partner’s dependent children
- Any individual you may have financed in the past for whom you are financially accountable.
- The parents and grandparents that you are wishing to finance and if they have any dependent.
- Any dependent individual/children who will not arrive in Canada with their parent or grandparent.
- The parent or grandparent’s spouse, even if they are not coming to Canada.
- The parent or grandparents’ separated spouse.
It is necessary that you should meet the least earnings requirement for the past three taxation years. This minimum requirement is for people living outside Quebec who wishes to sponsor their parent and grandparent. The individuals who reside in Quebec will have to follow the Province’s minimum requirements.
| Fundamental income is required of the sponsor to match his or her own family unit’s primary needs.
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| Total number of members in your family unit | Basic annual income required |
| 1 | $24,602 |
| 2 | $33,209 |
| 3 | $41,001 |
| 4 | $47,156 |
| 5 | $52,482 |
| The gross yearly revenue is raised by $5,326 for each added dependent. | |
|
Extra income is required of the sponsor to meet the primary needs of the sponsored person and his or her family. |
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| Number of persons 18 years of age or over | Number of persons under 18 years of age | Additional gross annual income required of the sponsor |
| 0 | 1 | $8,515 |
| 0 | 2 | $13,496 |
| The gross annual income required is increased by $4,500 for each additional person under 18 years of age. | ||
| Number of persons 18 years of age or over | Number of persons under 18 years of age | Additional gross annual income required of the sponsor |
| 1 | $17,994 | |
| 1 | 1 | $24,177 |
| 1 | 2 | $27,300 |
| The gross annual income required is increased by $3,121 for each additional person under 18 years of age. | ||
| Number of persons 18 years of age or over | Number of persons under 18 years of age | Additional gross annual income required of the sponsor |
| 2 | $26,388 | |
| 2 | 1 | $29,560 |
| 2 | 2 | $31,912 |
| The gross annual income required is increased by $2,342 for each additional person under 18 years of age and by $8,389 for each additional person 18 years of age or over. | ||
The tables presented above are for the candidates who filled the interest form in 2020, and if they have got the invite from IRCC. The candidates will be able to apply this year.
The sponsor will have to sign an undertaking agreement that they will pay back any social assistance claimed by the sponsored individual. That will remain the same for Canada and Quebec. For Quebec, the undertaking duration is ten years, and for the rest of the Provinces, that will be 20 years.
